Reviews

TSQ - Walking the Picos de Europa

Fantastic holiday at great hotel with really varied walks in amazing scenery.

Great holiday you shouldn't miss

Other than the timing of flights to/from Bilbao everything was excellent. We were very lucky with the weather but the walks, food (both in the hotel and on our free evening), the walking company were excellent.

Walking in Picos de Europa

I have just returned from an August trip walking in the Picos de Europa; I feel as if I have been on the top of the world! I very rarely give anything more than four stars but this trip really was five star from beginning to end. I had several reservations whether I could manage the ascents, as coming from the Chilterns I am used to a few hills, not steep mountains. But our guide, Alvaro, was outstanding, and really sensitive to the needs of the whole group – and I made it to the top every time! Sometimes he led from the front and sometimes, where appropriate, he let the faster walkers go at their own pace and ran between the front and the back of the group to make sure we were all ok and felt supported…and all this whilst carrying up to 10 litres of water in case we ran out. His passion and enthusiasm for the area were infectious and it really is a spectacular area to walk in.
The food at the hotel was excellent, especially the evening meal which was a four course affair, beautifully served and with a good range of choice for the mains. The hotel owners Jim and Pilar and their staff are all very friendly.
We were blessed with great weather which certainly helped and my fellow walkers were a great bunch. As always with Exodus, single travellers should have no reservations about coming on their own.

Walking the Picos de Europa

Great walking, good company, top notch leader, stunning scenery and a lovely hotel.

Walking the Picos de Europa

A moderate – graded walking experience which gave time to take a relaxed pace, if needed. We were lucky to gel immediately as a group who adored the outdoors and the views with just enough physical exertion, while all had he ablility to push on if time was short. The weather is very variable, from sticky to thundery to burning hot to fresh and sunny. Every valley may have a different weather experience, therefore every day was a surprise.
Evenings at the hotel were relaxed with great cooking, a full bar and extremely friendly hosts.

Picos de Europa July 2015

Spectacular scenery. Excellent guide. Good accommodation with lovely view from dining room. Great food.

Wonderful week in the Picos

I wasn’t sure what to expect given that this was my first solo trip and the first time with Exodus. I shouldn’t have worried though, it was a most excellent walking holiday. The scenery was stunning, the hotel lovely, the walking varied, the wildlife and flora beautiful, the fellow walkers splendid company and the tour guide just perfect (see below).

Wonderful Pico's!

Wow – what a great place, Northern Spain is beautiful – the locals treat it as a separate country and in effect it is.

Simply wonderful

My sixth, my wife’s third, exodus trip, and the best by some distance. Think fabulous walking, excellent food, rustic but carefully caring accommodation and staff, and most of all a guide who makes everyone feel an individual not a member of a pack.

A Beautiful and Undiscovered Part of Spain and Very Challenging Walking

We purposely chose the challenging week for this trip as they always tend to offer fuller days out and at higher altitudes. We have never walked or considered this area of Spain prior to this trip but certainly were impressed by the area, accommodation, food and the walking that was offered. This trip certainly did ‘what it said on the can’!

From the moment we arrived in Bilbao and were met by our guide Álvaro Saiz, the trip ran like clockwork.

Despite the weather on arrival being quite unseasonable and looking like it may affect the higher level walking, Alvaro adjusted the days to suit and still gave us challenging walks each day that were full-on, demanding and rewarding. By the end of the week the weather had cleared showing the Picos de Europa in its full and stunning glory.

The hotel and friendliness of the owners and staff made it very homely and welcoming. The views from the hotel were stunning and its close proximity to the very pleasant town was excellent. All the food offered at the hotel was first class and generous, including the packed lunches.

This trip was the full package and the Picos, scenery, guide, daily transport, hotel and food were faultless. We were very sad to leave and hope to return again.